Bearing brunt of election mania

Published: Sunday, October 28, 2012 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, October 26, 2012 at 8:59 a.m.

Being a history lover, I enjoy the Smithsonian magazine. The October cover story takes a new view on Thomas Jefferson. Recovered information from Monticello farm records casts a shadow on the man best known for his words: "All men are created equal."

Facts

Garrison lives in Flat Rock. Contact her at mmrgarrison@morrisbb.net

How many Founding Fathers would be elected under today's intense media scrutiny? I imagine quite a few would fall to the wayside.

We are in the final days counting down to the election. Unaffiliated voters bear the brunt of election mania, including persistent electronic phone calls, countless fliers in the mail and perpetual email appeals to part with your life savings before disaster descends.

Heaven help you if you make one donation — you will be hounded for more. Television viewing for those without recording devices is a misery: one minute of your show followed by 10 minutes of people insulting each other.

I know the American public is more intelligent than this. Why must we be insulted in this way? Every election cycle the craziness seems to escalate.

Perhaps like me, you watched the presidential and vice-presidential debates. I can honestly say I will not miss them. Viewing them around bedtime gets one in an agitated mood and does not promote good sleeping. In fact, it produces some wild nightmares. I get the impression that some people would like it if we held a boxing match and drew blood during political season.

Barack Obama and Mitt Romney got rather testy on Oct. 16. The moderators have a tough job. If they stick to the time clock too strictly, it squelches the exchange. If they don't have a tough hand, the candidates run amuck. As an aside, I was pleased to see two women chosen as moderators this election cycle.

Our country is in desperate need of elected officials who are not afraid to be mavericks. Our party system seems to be making us sick. Whether you thought Chief Justice John Roberts' ruling on health care was abominable or the greatest thing since pasteurized milk, you will have to admit that the man called it like he saw it.

I disagree with many of John McCain's viewpoints but have always respected him over the years for having the courage to say what he thinks. This summer, he was vocal about the Supreme Court's decision that affected campaign donations. He also took to the Senate floor to speak out when there was an unfounded character assassination of one of Hillary Clinton's aides. Sen. Bernie Sanders is another one who tells it like it is. We need more people who will speak up.

We are at a point where there is little to no tolerance for straying from the party line. The ousting of GOP Sen. Richard Lugar after his 36 years of service is one example. No one in leadership roles seems embarrassed to say the objective is defeating the opponent, not serving the public.

In this current climate, it is acceptable to misstate the truth. The level of hatred is toxic. It is one thing to watch analysts for entertainment in the privacy of your home. It is quite another when wild exaggerations are taken for the truth. Some of the crazy theories about President Obama are unbelievable and over the top.

The birth certificate issue is still alive in many people's minds. Do they honestly think someone fictitiously listed his birth in the local papers in Hawaii over 50 years ago, with the idea that one day he would be president? Is it rational to believe that the president has a weather machine? He's been blamed for the donut hole in the Medicare drug plan when it in fact happened during the Bush years.

Every malady known to man has been laid at his feet. These examples just graze the surface on this topic.

People have every right to favor one candidate over another. Just do not waste your vote on lies and misinformation. Take the time to do some research, and use respected sources. Read several publications, and watch more than one news network. Be aware that everyone has a slant, and make an effort to discern the truth. Consider the wild tales on any candidate with a skeptical eye.

It is particularly pleasing to me that the networks are doing fact checks at the debates. Both campaigns have had their gaffes. Some independent, nonpartisan websites to use at home are: Snopes.com, PolitiFact.com and FactCheck.org. In my opinion, one of the best nonpartisan voter guides is www.ncvoterguide.org. The booklet mailed out by the state with judicial candidate profiles is also helpful.

Attend candidate forums. There is nothing like seeing prospective officeholders in person and assessing how they present themselves and grasp the facts. I commend all the local parties and organizations that held forums.

My rule of thumb is to take the time to read as much available material on all candidates and their stances on various issues. Only then do I decide who I feel will do the best job.

All of us need to mind our manners. There is a lot to be said for the old adage of no politics or religion in polite company. Don't make the assumption others feel the same way you do. You run the risk of insulting people at the dinner table, on Facebook and in emails. That does not mean you should suppress your opinion. Just present it in a respectful manner. If need be, agree to disagree and move on to another subject. Everyone has a right to an opinion.

Finally, as to the proposed voter ID laws, I urge you to read the details of a 2012 Carnegie Knight report on nationwide voter fraud. Since 2000, there have been 10 cases of in-person voter impersonation out of 146 million registered voters. (Most of the problems have been with absentee voting, and voter registration where a voter ID card would have no impact. Nearly half the instances have been dismissed.) This is hardly the scary scenario that has been painted to justify identification laws. The Justice Department under the Bush administration also analyzed this and found little evidence of voter fraud.

I would rather see people fired up about doing research before voting. I recommend that the local media publish the ballot and run candidate stories at least a day before early voting begins. (The ballot is available at blueridgenow.com.) Don't just accept endorsements in races; take time to read and form your own opinion. With our local school funding declining each year, take great care with your school board voting.

Everyone will be relieved when we put this election to rest. In closing, let me say a word on behalf of the weary public. Earth to politicians: Do you really think your electronic phone call after 10 p.m. is going to make me think more favorably of your candidate? Wise up!

As for you, get empowered and go vote. If you don't participate, no complaining allowed.

Mary Garrison lives in Flat Rock. Contact her at mmrgarrison@gmail.com.

<p>Being a history lover, I enjoy the Smithsonian magazine. The October cover story takes a new view on Thomas Jefferson. Recovered information from Monticello farm records casts a shadow on the man best known for his words: "All men are created equal."</p><p>How many Founding Fathers would be elected under today's intense media scrutiny? I imagine quite a few would fall to the wayside.</p><p>We are in the final days counting down to the election. Unaffiliated voters bear the brunt of election mania, including persistent electronic phone calls, countless fliers in the mail and perpetual email appeals to part with your life savings before disaster descends.</p><p>Heaven help you if you make one donation — you will be hounded for more. Television viewing for those without recording devices is a misery: one minute of your show followed by 10 minutes of people insulting each other.</p><p>I know the American public is more intelligent than this. Why must we be insulted in this way? Every election cycle the craziness seems to escalate.</p><p>Perhaps like me, you watched the presidential and vice-presidential debates. I can honestly say I will not miss them. Viewing them around bedtime gets one in an agitated mood and does not promote good sleeping. In fact, it produces some wild nightmares. I get the impression that some people would like it if we held a boxing match and drew blood during political season.</p><p>Barack Obama and Mitt Romney got rather testy on Oct. 16. The moderators have a tough job. If they stick to the time clock too strictly, it squelches the exchange. If they don't have a tough hand, the candidates run amuck. As an aside, I was pleased to see two women chosen as moderators this election cycle.</p><p>Our country is in desperate need of elected officials who are not afraid to be mavericks. Our party system seems to be making us sick. Whether you thought Chief Justice John Roberts' ruling on health care was abominable or the greatest thing since pasteurized milk, you will have to admit that the man called it like he saw it. </p><p>I disagree with many of John McCain's viewpoints but have always respected him over the years for having the courage to say what he thinks. This summer, he was vocal about the Supreme Court's decision that affected campaign donations. He also took to the Senate floor to speak out when there was an unfounded character assassination of one of Hillary Clinton's aides. Sen. Bernie Sanders is another one who tells it like it is. We need more people who will speak up.</p><p>We are at a point where there is little to no tolerance for straying from the party line. The ousting of GOP Sen. Richard Lugar after his 36 years of service is one example. No one in leadership roles seems embarrassed to say the objective is defeating the opponent, not serving the public.</p><p>In this current climate, it is acceptable to misstate the truth. The level of hatred is toxic. It is one thing to watch analysts for entertainment in the privacy of your home. It is quite another when wild exaggerations are taken for the truth. Some of the crazy theories about President Obama are unbelievable and over the top.</p><p>The birth certificate issue is still alive in many people's minds. Do they honestly think someone fictitiously listed his birth in the local papers in Hawaii over 50 years ago, with the idea that one day he would be president? Is it rational to believe that the president has a weather machine? He's been blamed for the donut hole in the Medicare drug plan when it in fact happened during the Bush years.</p><p>Every malady known to man has been laid at his feet. These examples just graze the surface on this topic.</p><p>People have every right to favor one candidate over another. Just do not waste your vote on lies and misinformation. Take the time to do some research, and use respected sources. Read several publications, and watch more than one news network. Be aware that everyone has a slant, and make an effort to discern the truth. Consider the wild tales on any candidate with a skeptical eye.</p><p>It is particularly pleasing to me that the networks are doing fact checks at the debates. Both campaigns have had their gaffes. Some independent, nonpartisan websites to use at home are: Snopes.com, PolitiFact.com and FactCheck.org. In my opinion, one of the best nonpartisan voter guides is www.ncvoterguide.org. The booklet mailed out by the state with judicial candidate profiles is also helpful.</p><p>Attend candidate forums. There is nothing like seeing prospective officeholders in person and assessing how they present themselves and grasp the facts. I commend all the local parties and organizations that held forums.</p><p>My rule of thumb is to take the time to read as much available material on all candidates and their stances on various issues. Only then do I decide who I feel will do the best job.</p><p>All of us need to mind our manners. There is a lot to be said for the old adage of no politics or religion in polite company. Don't make the assumption others feel the same way you do. You run the risk of insulting people at the dinner table, on Facebook and in emails. That does not mean you should suppress your opinion. Just present it in a respectful manner. If need be, agree to disagree and move on to another subject. Everyone has a right to an opinion.</p><p>Finally, as to the proposed voter ID laws, I urge you to read the details of a 2012 Carnegie Knight report on nationwide voter fraud. Since 2000, there have been 10 cases of in-person voter impersonation out of 146 million registered voters. (Most of the problems have been with absentee voting, and voter registration where a voter ID card would have no impact. Nearly half the instances have been dismissed.) This is hardly the scary scenario that has been painted to justify identification laws. The Justice Department under the Bush administration also analyzed this and found little evidence of voter fraud.</p><p>I would rather see people fired up about doing research before voting. I recommend that the local media publish the ballot and run candidate stories at least a day before early voting begins. (The ballot is available at blueridgenow.com.) Don't just accept endorsements in races; take time to read and form your own opinion. With our local school funding declining each year, take great care with your school board voting.</p><p>Everyone will be relieved when we put this election to rest. In closing, let me say a word on behalf of the weary public. Earth to politicians: Do you really think your electronic phone call after 10 p.m. is going to make me think more favorably of your candidate? Wise up!</p><p>As for you, get empowered and go vote. If you don't participate, no complaining allowed.</p><p>Mary Garrison lives in Flat Rock. Contact her at mmrgarrison@gmail.com.</p>